Fiona Meeks

I didn’t realise my whole career that I got jobs and opportunities because I spoke to different people and shared my ideas…this came so naturally to me that I didn’t know until I studied a Master’s program in ‘innovation’ that there is a science behind talking to people, sharing ideas and getting more opportunities. This is called network science and I was taught how to conduct a network study.

Because I had such a positive experience of securing opportunities from my networks (such as getting new jobs) I wanted to study whether other people were experiencing the same on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP), this mattered to me because a lot of money taken from tax payers all across the country was used to build the Park. I wondered if the money would be worth it if a new area was created where people could network and gain opportunities like I had – especially young people.

East London is very deprived but there are so many talented young people that I felt it was important to help them understand the importance of talking to new people who are different in order to gain opportunities – particularly jobs or even internships, apprenticeships and voluntary positions.

Post 16 Education: A level English and Drama year 1 – dropped out and changed course; A level Psychology & Sociology

Higher Education: Psychosocial Studies undergraduate degree – (A combination of social psychology and sociology); Masters in Sports Business Innovation; PhD in Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Fiona’s experience as a student

Undergrad for me was more of a socialisation experience, I was gifted at writing essays but I didn’t really apply myself. However, my degree was broad enough to give me options when I finally ‘grew up’ and got a job! 

Some degrees link to a clear career (e.g. medicine, law, etc) but others are vague – decide if you want to pursue a career or if you want to use uni as a learning experience.

Fiona’s Career

I started as a volunteer in a youth music centre (this is where the psychosocial studies degree came in useful). This exposed me to new (different) people where I could share ideas about new projects and programs that might work. I then got offered my first formal position as a music teacher and sound engineer and went on to learn this new skill.

This pattern occurred my whole career.

I landed jobs in different industries and was promoted consistently because I did the following:

• Listened to people using the service, observed what worked /didn’t work about a service.
• Was passionate and driven to learn what I didn’t know and be the best at what I did know.
• Talked to different people at all different levels of a company and across different departments.
• Had the confidence to share new ideas, thoughts and was not afraid to ask questions.